DHAKA: Former Bangladesh One-day International cricket captain Tamim Iqbal was taken to hospital on Monday after suffering a heart attack on the field during a domestic match.
Tamim, 36, was leading Mohammedan Sporting Club in a match of the 50-over Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.
He participated in the toss but later complained of chest pain and after initial treatment on the field he was transported to a nearby hospital.
“He suffered a heart attack. What I know so far is that his heart started to function better,” Debashis Chowdhury, a medical officer of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), told AFP.
After fielding for only one over, Tamim left the ground in chest pain, and drove himself to the KPJ Specialised Hospital and Nursing Home. He returned to the stadium after the consultation.
An angiogram revealed a blockage, following which the angioplasty was done.
“He [Tamim] returned to us in a critical condition. We can call it a heart attack, and we subsequently did an angiogram and angioplasty to remove the blockage. The medical procedure has gone smoothly. He is currently under observation. The swift coordination between the medical staff at BKSP and the hospital ensured Iqbal was treated quickly,” the KPJ Specialised Hospital and Nursing Home, where the player was taken for treatment, said in a statement.
The BCB called off its scheduled board meeting for the day after Tamim’s sudden illness.
Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025